The Davis Division of the Academic Senate has announced its distinguished teaching honorees for 2014-15:

• Undergraduate teaching — Russell Hovey, animal science; Kristin Lagattuta, psychology; and Clarence Walker, history.
• Graduate-professional teaching — Margaret Ferguson, English; John Labavitch, plant sciences; and Truman Young, plant sciences.

The senate previously announced the recipients of its other academic awards: Faculty Research Lecture and Distinguished Scholarly Public Service.

The Academic Senate’s award recipients and the Academic Federation’s award recipients will be recognized at a joint reception on Tuesday, May 5. The program will include the Faculty Research Lecture. See details below.

The senate’s Distinguished Teaching Award Committee provided the following write-ups for each award winner:

Undergraduate Teaching

Hovey

Russell Hovey, professor of animal science — He “has the ability to take a subject matter students have no interest in, or might even despise, and suddenly with his guidance, they can’t get enough of the material.” He saw how preveterinary students needed a course on veterinary school admission strategies and promptly created such a course. He explores the use of technology to best address student needs, all his classes are podcasted and he has used online YouTube lectures as well as virtual review sessions with a virtual white board. As one of many students stated, “He was the professor who mentored me, asked me the right questions and helped me realize what I was capable of achieving.”

Lagattuta

Kristin Lagattuta, professor of psychology — Described as a devoted teacher and mentor whose classes integrate modern media, group discussion and home videos that encourage critical thinking and deep understanding. Professor Lagattuta “imparts a passion for the subject that empowers students to seek out creative and challenging career paths.” She takes genuine interest in student ideas inside and outside of the classroom, and goes above and beyond to ensure their success. A previous student commented that “her faith in my potential along with her thoughtful patience and compassion nourished my growth mentally, emotionally and academically.” Professor Lagattuta is amazingly committed to undergraduate education.

Walker

Clarence Walker, distinguished professor of history — A leading figure in the field of African American history, he is described in his nomination package as an inspiring teacher and mentor with an “astounding command of the literature in the field.” He is popular with students despite his “very old school,” “decidedly low-tech” approach and high standards. One former student, now an assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said, “I owe my career to Clarence Walker’s engaged mentorship and undergraduate teaching.” Editor's note: On April 2, Professor Walker received the 2015 UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement.

Graduate-Professional Teaching

Ferguson

Margaret Ferguson, professor of English — She is an innovative, generous and successful teacher of graduate students. At UC Davis, she has already received the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award from the Consortium for Research on Women and Gender. In her capacity as president of the Modern Language Association, she worked to establish new standards of “best practices” regarding letters of recommendation. In seminars, she pushes “students to support and clarify their arguments without making them feel nervous or pressured.” Her nomination letter states that she “meets students wherever they are, and works with them to move forward into success and contentment. Her impact is enormous and lasting.”

Labavitch

John Labavitch, emeritus professor of plant sciences — His devotion to students in the Plant Biology Graduate Program can be characterized in three words: dedication, passion and encouragement. Students and colleagues feel he far exceeded his expected role in organizing and executing the required core series, creating an interactive and connected foundational series. To students he conveyed his passion for biology, that it should be studied both for its intrinsic beauty as well as its application to human betterment. And students appreciated his bright and encouraging spirit: “He was nothing but enthusiastic and optimistic.”

Young

Truman Young, professor of plant sciences — Colleagues and former students tout him as “an incomparable mentor and teacher.” His optimism and enthusiasm shape his teaching and mentoring, which extends beyond UC Davis to the Mpala Research Center in Kenya. His students regularly win fellowships and awards and find fulfilling careers. He has developed new approaches to teaching ecology based on experiential learning and connecting firmly theory with practice, and he is actively engaged in curriculum development. As stated by one letter writer: “Truman has spent a career dedicated to the success of graduate students.”

OTHER AWARDS COVERAGE

• Academic Senate: Faculty Research Lecture
• Academic Senate: Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Awards
• Academic Federation Excellence in Research and Excellence in Teaching

LECTURE AND RECEPTION

An awards program will comprise the Faculty Research Lecture and a joint reception for all Academic Senate and Academic Federation award recipients. The event is scheduled from 5:15 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in the multipurpose room at the Student Community Center. RSVPs are requested.

The program:

• Awards presentation — 5:15-6:15 p.m.
• Reception — 6:15-6:55 p.m.
• Faculty Research Lecture — "In Search of Medieval Music in Africa,” by Professor Anna Maria Busse Berger, Department of Music, 6:55-7:45 p.m.

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